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THE WYOMING 



MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. 

Twenty-Fourth Regiment, 

Connecticut Militia. 




The Tioga Point Historical Socier 

delivered December 3rd, 1901, by 

Hon. CHARLES TUBBS, 

Honorary Member Tioga Point Historical Society. 
Corresponding Member Wyoming Historical & Geological Society. 

Athens, Penna. 
1903. 




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The Wyoming Military Establishment. 



A HISTORY 



— OF THE- 



nun 



WENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT 



An Address 

before 

The Tioga Point Historical Society 

delivered December 3rd t 1901, by 

Hon. CHARLES TUBBS, 

Honorary Member Tioga Point Historical Society. 
Corresponding Member "Wyoming Historical & Geological Society. 



Athens, Penna. 
1903. 



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LIEUTENANT LEBBEUS TUBBS, 

PRIVATE SAMUEL TUBBS, 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GEORGE DORRANCE. 



TO THE MEMORY OF THESE, MY ANCESTORS, 

MEMBERS OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, 

I DEDICATE THIS STUDY 

OF COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS, 

IN WHICH THEY PERFORMED A PART. 






17- 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Map of Wyoming Valley, Frontispiece 

Lazarus Stewart's Block House, ... - Page 16 

Forty Fort in 1778, 23 

Pittston Fort, *° 

Wyoming Monument, 2 ^ 

The plates from which the above illustrations were printed were 
kindly loaned by the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. 




Athens Gazette, 
Athens, Pa. 



The Wvomioff Military Establishment 



Alsace-Loraine is a conquered province. The flag of 
Germany floats over it. Within the memory of most of us 
it was an integral part of France. At the time of the 
conquest, no heart of all its people went willingly to the 
side of the victor. 

We are met to-day in Pennsylvania. Yet for years, in 
the eighteenth century the soil beneath our feet, and five 
thousand square miles of adjacent territory, inside the 
present limits of Pennsylvania, was an integral part of 
the State of Connecticut. It was settled by Connecticut 
people, was under Connecticut institutions, was governed 
by Connecticut laws. It was a Connecticut town; it was a 
Connecticut county ; had a judge, a sheriff, other officers, 
and sent representatives to the Connecticut legislature. 

Pennsylvania made conquest of it. No> heart of all 
the people of this Connecticut town went willingly to the 
side of the victor. The Alsatians were no- more stunned, 
at being forcibly wrenched from their allegiance to the 
flag they loved, than were the Connecticut people who had 
settled a town of their own in the heart of Pennsylvania. 

How did this cataclysm befall ? I will tell you. It all 
came of the ignorance or carelessness of a King. In 1620 
King James I. of England granted a Charter to the Ply- 
mouth company for the ruling of New England in America. 
The charter covered North America from the fortieth to 
the forty-eighth degrees of north latitude, and from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. The Plymouth Company 



6 

proceeded to sub-divide its territory. In 163 1 it granted 
a charter to the Connecticut Colony which covered the 
space between the forty-first and forty-second degrees of 
north latitude "and from the Narragansett river on the 
east to the South Sea on the west throughout the main 
lands." The South Sea was the Pacific Ocean. In 1662 
King Charles II. gave a new charter to Connecticut con- 
firming the act of the Plymouth Company. Nineteen 
years later this same King in the grant of Pennsylvania to 
William Penn, included a portion of the same territory, 
already given by him to Connecticut. 

The ignorance or carelessness of King Charles, in due 
time bore a rich harvest of strife and bloodshed. Under 
the Connecticut charter ( which was the older) my ances- 
tors, and perhaps yours, came into this valley of the Sus- 
quehanna, and sat themselves down. Under the Penn- 
sylvania charter (which was the younger) came sheriffs, 
and armed men, to drive them off. On the tongues of 
men this disputed section was known as Wyoming. In 
the statute book it is called Westmoreland. 

Having explained how the Connecticut people under a 
claim of right, built up a government within the present 
boundaries of Pennsylvania, I have said all I desire to say 
on that subject. It explains how a part of what is now 
Pennsylvania was really a part of Connecticut in the last 
years of our Colonial history, and in the first years of our 
history as an independent nation — from 1774 to 1783. 

This Twenty- fourth regiment of Connecticut Militia 
was organized on that part of the soil of Pennsylvania 
which was known as the Wyoming region, and in that 
regiooi it performed its deeds, and lived its organic life. 

I am aware that this explanation is quite unnecessary. 
I am aware that the Society that listens to me contains 
many descendants of the men who- made the history I am 
about to relate. I am aware that the great-grandchildren 
of Captains Bidlack, Franklin, Spaulding, and Whittlesey 



here reside. I know that descendants of the Buck, Gore, 
Mathewson, Satterlee, Stevens and Tozer families abound 
in this old town. A writer who knows your community 
better than I do could mention others. 

I have been attracted to the history of the Twenty-fourth 
regiment of Connecticut Militia because in all the histories 
it has received so little attention. Mr. Chapman, in his 
"Sketch of the History of Wyoming," (1830) says: "The 
whole body of the citizens was formed into a militia." 
(p. 102). He does not say it was a regiment nor designate 
it by its number. Col. Stone, in his work entitled, "Wy- 
oming and its History," (1841), alludes to it in the phrase, 
"a regiment of militia being organized," (p. 202). but 
does not state its number nor give it further attention. 
Charles Miner, in his "History of Wyoming in a Series 
of Letters," (1845), gives many facts, but notices only 
six of the ten companies of which the regiment was com- 
posed and details only the organization of those companies 
as it was in 1775. George Peck, in his "Wyoming; its 
history, stirring incidents, and romantic adventures," 
(1858), devotes to it a passing allusion in the words, "a 
regiment of militia having been established." (p. 28). 
Stewart Pearce does not allude to the Twenty-fourth regi- 
ment at all in his "Annals of Luzerne," (1866). but does 
mention five of its companies, (p. 34). Steuben Jenkins, 
in his "Historical Address at the Monument," (1878), 
mentions its existence (p. 17), and at another place enum- 
erates seven of its companies, (p. 34). Horace Edwin 
Hayden, in his monograph entitled, "Major John Garret ; 
a forgotten hero of the Massacre of Wyoming." (1895) 
explains the existence of the regiment, credits it with nine 
companies, and gives the changes of the officers made in 
1777. 

In my judgment, the services of this regiment were of 
more importance than have been accorded them by the his- 
torians. I shall seek to arrange those already well known, 



8 

into a comprehensive whole, to show their relation to other 
events, and to add some facts not hitherto brought to light. 

The Wyoming community was isolated in its situation. 
It was seventy miles from it to the settlements on the Delaware ; 
it was sixty miles to Fort Augusta ; to the north and to the 
west, was a howling wilderness. This wilderness was 
filled with a savage Indian population. A continual fight 
was waged with the proprietaries of Pennsylvania. 

The settlement which became permanent, was begun in 
1769. It was a self-governing community. It kept a 
record of its official acts. In 1772 it was voted, "That 
each and every settler should provide himself with a flint 
lock and ammunition, and continue to guard around the 
threatened plantations until further notice." (1) That 
was the first step — individual action, every man defend his 
own castle. This did not prove effectual. Organization 
was needed. That was the second step in the evolution. 
It took time to bring it about — perhaps a year. At a meet- 
ing of the inhabitants held March 22, 1773, it was voted: 
"That the Comtee of settlers be Desired to send to the 
several towns or to their Comtee, Requiring them to Call 
all the Inhabitants in Each of ye said towns to meet on 
Thursday Next at five a Clock in ye afternoon of sd Day 
in some Convenient place in sd town, and that they then 
Chouse one Person in Each of sd towns as an officer to 
muster them, & so that all are oequipt according to Law 
with fire arms, and ammunition, and that they Chuse two 
Sergants & a Clerk & that the said Chieff officer is Hereby 
Commanded & Directed to Call ye Inhabitants together 
once in 14 Days for ye future until this Company orders 
otherwise & that in case of an allarm or ye appearance of 
an Enemy he is Directed to call ye sd Inhabitants together 
& stand for ye Defense of ye sd towns & Settlements 
without further orders." (2) In speaking of these pre- 

1. Westmoreland Records as per Hollister 5th ed. p. 139. 

2. Westmoreland Records as per Hollister 5th ed. p. 140. 



parations Miner says : "If the splendid uniform, the glit- 
tering bayonet, the evolution rapid and precise, with the 
imposing band of music, did not grace their trainings, 
there was yet upon the ground the strong banded old 
French musket, the long duck shooting piece, and more 
efficient than either the close drawing rifle, little known in 
New England, but becoming familiar on the banks of the 
Susquehanna." Trainings once in fourteen days! They 
certainly believed in the strenuous life. Those trainings 
were not holidays. They were serious preparation for im- 
pending warfare. 

In January. 1774, the Wyoming settlements which had 
113>{E} 9J9AV (£) 'spios zz6i jo uoi}B[ndod 13 o} uavojS 
official notice of by the legislature of Connecticut which 
incorporated them as the town of Westmoreland. Wyom- 
ing and Westmoreland may henceforth be regarded as in- 
terchangeable terms. 

The next step in the evolution of the military establish- 
ment had its origin at the second town meeting after the 
incorporation, which was held on the 12th day of April, 
1774. The town, by a vote, applied for the establishment 
of a regiment. (4) For some reason the legislature was slow 
to act. It may have been for the want of a representative 
in the law making body. The town, however, did not 
neglect to keep itself in a state of preparedness. They 
kept everlastingly at it. At the fourth town meeting held 
that year "Votes were passed to form themselves into com- 
panies in a military way," (5) each district in Westmore- 
land to be a company and Zebulon Butler, Esq., Major 
Ezekiel Pierce and Mr. John Jenkins were appointed a 
committee to repair to the several districts and lead each 
company to a choice of officers. 

From this it is clear that the officers were chosen by a 
vote of the men in each company. The subsequent "estab- 

3. Colonial Records of Conn. Vol. XIV p. . 

4. Miner p. 157. 

5. Miner p. 158. 



10 

lishn ent" of the rank of officers by the Connecticut Assem- 
bly was but a ratification of what had already been done 
by vote of the men. 

It was more than a year after the action of the town meet- 
ing asking for the legal organization of a regiment before 
the legislature acted upon the subject. At May session, 
1775. it enacted "That the town of Westmoreland shall 
be one entire regiment distinguished and called by the name 
of the Twenty-fourth regiment and shall be under the same 
rules and orders, and have the same powers, privileges 
and advantages as other regiments of this Colony by law 
have." (6). 

One of these advantages was the promise of six pence 
for half day training and twelve pence for whole day train- 
ing, and this to be paid out of the Colony treasury. 

The regiment was assigned to the sixth brigade, Con- 
necticut State Militia, commanded by Brig. Gen. Oliver 
Wolcott. The organization was begun by the "establish- 
ment" of the regimental officers at the same session. Zebu- 
Ion Butler was made Colonel ; Nathan Denison, Lieutenant 
Colonel; William Judd, Major. (7). 

Zebulon Butler, the newly elected colonel, born at Lynne. 
Conn., 1 73 1, was no novice in the military service. In the 
French and Indian war he was Ensign in Captain Andrew- 
Ward's 2 company of the 4 Conn. Regt. in 1755-6-7. He 
was Lieutenant in Captain Timothy Mather's company of 
the 3 Regt. in 1758. He was Captain in the 4th and 
1st regiments in 1759, 1760 and 1761. (8) He had served 
seven enlistments. The territorial range of his service 
extended from Crown Point on the north to Havana on the 
south. When elected Colonel his home was in Wilkes- 
Barre. 

Nathan Denison, the newly elected Lieutenant Colonel, 
born in Conn., 1741, had seen service in the French and 

6. Colonial Records of Conn. Vol. XV p. 12. 

7. Colonial Records of Conn. Vol. XV p. 43. 

8. Manuscript Pay Rolls Conn. State Library. 



11 

Indian war as a private in Col. Eleazar Fitch 's 3d Conn. 
Regt. (8) His services extended from May to November, 
1758. His home was in Kingston. 

Speaking of these two men Miner says : "Nature never 
formed two excellent men in more distinct contrast. But- 
ler polished in manner, quick in perception, vehement and 
rapid in execution : Denison, plain though courteous, slow 
to speak, as careful to consider, cool and firm, if not alert 
in action. They were the two great and acknowledged 
leaders in Westmoreland." (9). 

William Judd, the newly elected Major, does not seem 
to have had any military experience outside of the militia. 

The accessible records are silent about the progress made 
with the regiment during the summer of 1775, but it is 
fair to assume that the newly commissioned field officers 
•did not neglect their duty in perfecting their organization 
and in training their men. 

At the October session of the Connecticut legislature the 
election of the officers of nine of the companies were rati- 
fied. They were as follows: ( 10) 

First (Lower Wilkes-Barre) Company, Stephen Fuller, 
Captain ; John Garret, Lieutenant ; Christopher Avery, 
Ensign. 

Second (Kingston) Company, Nathaniel Landon, Cap- 
tain ; George Dorrance, Lieutenant ; Asahel Buck, Ensign. 

Third (Plymouth) Company, Samuel Ransom, Captain; 
Perrin Ross, Lieutenant ; Asaph Whittlesey, Ensign. 

Fourth (Pittston) Company, Solomon Strong, Captain; 
Jonathan Parker, Lieutenant ; Timothy Keyes, Ensign. 

Fifth ( Hanover) Company, William McKarachan, Cap- 
tain ; Lazarus Stewart, Jr., Lieutenant; Silas Gore, Ensign. 

Sixth ( Upper Wilkes-Barre) Company, Rezin Geer, Cap- 
tain ; Daniel Gore, Lieutenant ; Matthias Hollenback, En- 
sign. 



9. Miner p. 154. 

10. Colonial Records of Conn. Vol. XV p. 152 et seq. 



12 

Seventh (Exeter) Company, Stephen Harding, Captain;, 
Elisha Scovill, Lieutenant; John Jenkins, Jr., Ensign. 

Eighth (Lackaway) Company, Eliab Farnham, Captain; 
John Shaw, Lieutenant; Elijah Winters, Ensign. 

Ninth (Up the River) Company, James Secord, Cap- 
tain; John De Pui, Lieutenant; Rudolph Fox, Ensign. 

Some of these officers had seen service as soldiers in the 
French and Indian War. (n) Captain Eliab Farnham, 
of the Lackaway Company, had done a tour of duty last- 
ing twenty-five weeks in 1758 in Capt. Nathan Whiting's 
Company, 2d Conn. Regt. Lieut. Elisha Scovill had 
served 32 weeks in 1759 in Capt. Amos Hitchcock's Com- 
pany in the seventh Connecticut regiment. 

Lieutenant Jonathan Parker had served 34 weeks in 
1 76 1 in the third company of the First Conn. Regt. com- 
manded by Major David Baldwin. 

The citizen liable to serve in the Connecticut militia 
was a man, between 16 and 50 years of age, but for speci- 
fied reason many were exempt from the service. (12). 

There was an almost immediate call for all the skill and 
ability of the newly commissioned officers not only in the 
training field, but in the arena of actual war. The Gov- 
ernor of Pennsylvania had made up his mind to completely 
destroy the Connecticut settlement at Wyoming. Wyom- 
ing was within the Pennsylvania county of Northumber- 
land of which William Cook was Sheriff. William Cook, 
under pretense of serving sundry writs at Wyoming - , took 
with him an armed force of 700 men,, under the command 
of Colonel William Plunket. He called it a "posse." 

This force left Northumberland early in December. 
1775, marching up the west side of the river over the almost 
impassable roads. The supplies for the expedition were 
loaded into boats. Progress was slow, as the boats had 
to be propelled against the current, encumbered as it often 

11. Manuscript Pay and Muster Rolls Conn. State Lib. 

12. Hinman's Connecticut in the War of the Revolution, ( 1842) p. 10. 



13 

was at that season of the year by floating- ice. December 
20th, Col. Plnnket was at Nescopeck Creek, nineteen miles 
below the south eastern extremity of the valley. His pro- 
gress now was closely watched by scouts. On Saturday, 
the 23d he arrived at Harvey's landing, one-fourth of a 
mile below the mouth of Harvey's Creek, where he landed, 
unloaded his boats, and encamped for the night. 

What preparation had been made to receive the invader? 
On this same Saturday Col. Zebulon Butler mustered the 
newly formed Twenty-fourth regiment. He also collected 
all the old men and boys who did not belong to the ranks 
of the regiment and armed them the best he could. In 
number, his force thus made up, was about four hundred. 
The two armies spent the night within a half mile of each 
other. From this point Col. Butler sent out a flag to Col. 
Plunket, in charge of Lieutenant Garret, inquiring the ob- 
ject of the invasion. Col. Plunket' s reply was that he 
came on a peaceful errand, simply to serve some Pennsyl- 
vania writs at Wyoming. 

On Sunday morning. Col. Butler left Ensign Mason F. 
Alden (*) with 18 men on the ground where he had spent 
the night. At the same time he sent Capt. Lazarus Stew- 
art (**) of the Hanover Company, with 20 men across the 
river to the east side above the Nanticoke Falls to prevent 
the enemy from landing, should they attempt to do so. 
He then, with the main body of his force, retreated about 
one mile up the river to a place where a natural defence 
existed. This consisted of a ridge of rocks projecting about 
one-half a mile south easterly from the Shawanese moun- 
tain to- the river. Near the river it was 1 or 2 feet high, but 
as it ran back toward the mountain it was of great height. 



* Mason F. Alden is employed to perform a responsible duty and is called 
Ensign. However, his name does not appear among the Ensigns of the Twenty- 
fourth regiment, at that time but recently elected. Perhaps it was a courtesy 
title derived from some previous service. 

** Lazarus Stewart was also employed to perform a responsible duty and 
is called Captain. He served during the French and Indian War ; was in Brad- 
dock's defeat; was Captain of the '•Paxtang Boys," but was not at this time a 
Captain in the Twenty-fourth regiment. He was a cousin of Lazarus Stewart, 
Jr., a Lieutenant in the Hanover company. 



14 

Wherever there were breaks in this natural rampart, But- 
ler's men filled in the space with logs and stones. Behind" 
this breastwork the Twenty-fourth regiment and its co- 
operating forces were stationed. About 1 1 o'clock Alden 
and his men became conscious that the enemy was moving, 
and they withdrew. They announced the approach of the- 
enemy to Col. Butler and joined him behind the fortifica- 
tion. When the enemy advanced it was met with a fusil- 
ade of shots along the whole line, killing one man, wound- 
ing others and throwing the whole force into the utmost 
confusion. Without firing a shot Col. Plunket withdrew 
to the camp at Harvey's Creek. 

Late in the afternoon the enemy brought two of its boats 
by land from Harvey's landing above the Nanticoke Falls. 
At night fall they were loaded with soldiers and rowed 
across the river. When they attempted to land they were 
fired upon by Captain Stewart and his men,, who lay in 
ambush upon the bank, killing one man, and wounding 
others. The attempt to land was given up and the boats 
and their cargoes floated down through the rapids and 
were safely moored at Harvey's landing. Thus ended the 
events of the day. 

On Christmas Day Col. Plunket renewed the attack on 
the breastwork. He divided his forces into two divisions. 
One division assailed the fortification in front, while the 
other attempted a flanking movement on Col. Butler's right. 
This was promptly met and repelled. The battle lasted 
nearly all day, but the enemy, baffled at all points, finally 
withdrew. The invasion known by Col. Plunket's name 
was at an end. Eight or ten men on each side were killed 
and many wonded. (13). 

The battle with Plunket had made the officers and men 
of the regiment painfully conscious of their lack of equip- 
ment. Powder! How could they get powder? Offer a 
reward for it ? That was what they did at a town meeting. 

13. Miner, p. 172 et seq. ; The Harvey Book, p. 628 et seq. 



15 

March 10, 1776 — two and a half months after the battle. 
"Voted that the first man that shall make fifty weight of 
good salt peter, in this town, shall be entitled to ten pounds 
lawful money, to be paid out of the town treasury." (14). 

Patriotism and this bounty no doubt produced an effect, 
as witness the following: "Mrs. Bethiah Jenkins says. The 
women took up their floors, dug out the earth, put it in 
casks, and ran water through it. Then took ashes in an- 
other cask and made lye — mixed the water from the earth 
with weak lye, boiled it, set it out to cool, and the salt peter 
rose to the top. Charcoal and sulphur were then used, 
and powder produced." (15). 

In May, 1776, John Jenkins, representative to the legis- 
lature, obtained leave for the selectmen to ere:t a powder 
mill in Westmoreland, but I can not learn that any mill 
was ever built. (16). 

In July of the same year the Council of Safety at Hart- 
ford "Voted that the Selectmen of Westmoreland may re- 
ceive at Messrs.' Elderkin & Wales mill, not exceeding 200 
pounds of gun powder: they to account to the Colony 
therefor at the price of 5s, 4d per lb." ( 17). 

Col. Butler, in a letter to Roger Sherman, dated August 
6, 1776, speaks of being in want of arms, "as those 80 guns 
taken from our people at Warrior Run have not been re- 
turned." (18). 

The Continental Congress the next year undertook to 
aid in supplying these wants, as witness the following action 
April 11: "Resolved, that 175 fire arms, either musquets 
or rifles, 200 wt. powder, 800 wt. lead, and 500 flints be 
sent to the town of Westmoreland, on the east branch of 
the Susquehanna river, to the care of Colonel Nathan Den- 
ison, to be used by the malitia there, for the defense of the 

14. Miner, p. 189. 

15. Westmoreland Records as per Jenkins' Address p. 11. 

16. Miner p. 212. 

17. Colonial Records of Conn. Vol. XV p. 470. 

18. Miner p. 187. 



16 

said town, if necessary: the arms to be returned when the 
service there will admit of it." (19). 

I am telling the story of a regiment whose fortunes 
were profoundly affected by the Revolutionary War. The 
men of which it was composed were intense rebels against 
the authority of England. Therefore when the Congress 
on the 23d of August, "Resolved, That two companies on 
the Continental Establishment be raised in the town of 
Westmoreland'' (20) it responded with an enlistment of 
82 men in each company. Captain Samuel Ransom, Lieu- 
tenant Perrin Ross, Ensigns Asahel Buck and Matthias 
Hollenbeck, with others, were elected as officers. I mention 
these because they were officers in the Twenty-fourth regi- 
ment. The men were all taken from the ranks of the 
Twenty-fourth regiment. Twenty other men in the sum- 
mer of 1776 also enlisted under Lieutenant Ohadiah Gore, 
to serve in a New York State regiment under Colonel Weis- 
ner. as well as ten more men to- serve under Captain Strong. 
Our regiment thus lost of its most robust men, 194 in the 
Summer of 1776, who enlisted into the Continental Army. 

While this depletion was going on the town assigned 
additional duties to the field officers at a meeting held 
August 28. "Voted ye field officers of ye regiment of this 
town be appointed a committee to view the most suitable 
places to build forts for ye defense of sd town, and deter- 
mine on some particular spot or place in each district for the 
purpose, and mark out the same." (21). Think for a 
moment of the work imposed on this Committee ! Think 
of the large territory to be gone over, the consideration of 
reasons for or against any particular location. Think of 
the work imposed on the men who were to build the forts. 

There were some old forts like Forty Fort in Kingston, 
and Fort Brown in Pittston, that were repaired and en- 
larged, but in other districts there were no suitable works 

19. Journals of Continental Congress Vol. Ill p. 104 

20. Journals of Continental Congress Vol. U p. 307 

21. Frontier Forts of Pa. Vol. I p. 434. 




STEWART'S BLOCK HOUSE. 



17 

of the kind and accordingly new site* were selected, and 
the proposed works laid out on the ground. Such was the 
case in Wilkes-Barre. Plymouth and Exeter. In Lower 
Pittston and Hanover, block houses were recommended and 
built. The work of repairing and building the forts ran 
through the years 1776, 1777 and was not completed until 
1778. 

Before closing the regimental history for 1776 I wish to 
mention the advent of the tenth company into its ranks, 
representing the train bands of the Districts of 
Huntington and Salem, of which Frethias Wall 
was elected Lieutenant and John Franklin, Jr., Ensign, at 
the October session of the legislature. (22). I have not seen 
this company assigned its proper place in the regiment in 
any of the histories. Of this company John Franklin, Jr., 
was ultimately to become the Captain and Stoddart Bowen 
the Lieutenant. 

In December, 1776, a supplement to the militia law was 
enacted by the Connecticut legislature, by which the age 
limit of those liable to serve was extended to persons from 
50 to 60 years of age, and many theretofore exempt were 
brought into the service. These persons were to be formed 
into companies to be called the "Alarm List," to elect their 
own officers and to be attached to already existing regi- 
ments, (23). 

Under this act two companies were formed in Wyoming 
in 1777 — one on the east side of the river, of which William 
Hooker Smith was elected Captain, one on the west side 
of the river of which James Bidlack, Sr., was elected Cap- 
tain. These became attached to the Twenty-fourth regi- 
ment. 

In popular speech these old men and exempts were called 
"Reformadoes." Under this Act the Colonels of regi- 
ments were given authority "to assemble in martial array 

22. Records of the State of Conn. Vol. I p. 31. 

23. Records of the State of Conn. Vol. I p. 91 et seq. 






18 



and put in warlike posture," the men under their command 
in case of invasion. 

In the Spring of 1777 the regiment took up a new duty. 
It was the duty of sending out scouting parties, (24) The 
Indians and Tories up the river were showing activity by 
occasionally capturing some one, and making a prisoner of 
him. Lieut. Asa Stevens, of the Kingston Company, went 
on a scouting expedition and brought in five suspected per- 
sons. Ensign John Jenkins, Jr., of the Exeter Company, 
led a scouting party up as far as Wyalusing, and was him- 
self captured and three other men. Captain Asaph Whittle- 
sey, of the Plymouth Company, led a scouting party up as 
far as Standing Stone. In January, 1778, Capt. Eliab 
Farnham, of the Lackaway Company, captured 18 tories 
(25) that had been disturbing his vicinage and sent them 
to Hartford under the escort of Lieut. Jonathan Haskell. 
The legislature declared that these persons should be 
treated as prisoners of war. This action was necessary, 
because the frontiersmen held that the prisoners ought to 
be hanged as cattle thieves. In May, 1778, Nathan Den- 
ison memorialized the legislature, to be reimbursed as Col- 
onel of the Twenty-fourth regiment, in sending out de- 
tachments as scouts and for guards during 1776, 1777 and 
1778. The prayer of his memorial was granted. (26). 

I must refer in this place to a further nominal depletion 
of the regiment. By act of Congress March 16, 1778, it 
was resolved to raise another Company of Continental 
troops at Westmoreland. The efforts to do this was at 
least partially successful and Dethic Hewit was elected 
Captain of the new company. In the same resolution it 
was provided that the new organization should be under 
the command of the field officers of the Twenty-fourth 
regiment. (27). 

24. Miner p. 200. 

25. Names of fifteen of these Tories are given in Records of State of Conn.. 
Vol. I p. 539. 

26. Records State of Conn. Vol. U p. 58. 

27. Journals of Continental Congress Vol. IV p. 113. 



19 

The enlistment of this company reduced the strength of 
the regiment. It transferred the service of the men from 
the state to the service of the United States. It did not. 
however, withdraw them from the Wyoming Valley. 

I will here explain the changes in the officers of the regi- 
ment. Under the militia laws of Connecticut there were 
two general muster days in the year — first Monday of May, 
first Monday of October. On either new officers could be 
elected to fill vacancies or for other reasons. Able and 
ambitious men coveted and strove to become officers of the 
regiment and of the companies. In the larger and stronger 
companies the rivalry was great and the officers were in a 
continual state of flux. In this way there were a large 
number of ex-officers. The ex-officers retained their titles 
by courtesy. Once a captain, always a captain. In the 
Wyoming histories, and upon the monument erected on 
the battlefield, confusion results, from giving the courtesy 
titles of ex-officers as much prominence as is given the titles 
of men who were in commission, and exercised actual com- 
mand. In view of these and similar facts I have been to 
much pains to make the roster of those in actual command 
accurate as it was in the last formation of the regiment. 
(28). 

I will first call attention to the changes in the regimental 
officers. Colonel Zebulon Butler resigned to enter the Con- 
tinental service January 1 , 1 777. Lt. Col. Nathan Denison 
was promoted to- be colonel. This occasioned a vacancy 
in the office of lieutenant-colonel, which was filled by the 
election of Lazarus Stewart, the famous Captain of the 
Paxtang Rangers, who declined to accept, and thereupon 
Major George Dorrance was promoted to that office in 
Oct., 1777. Major William Judd resigned to enter the 
Continental service, and his place was filled in May, 1777. 
by the promotion of Lieut. George Dorrance and on his 

28. See Appendix A. 



20 

elevation to the Lt. Colonelcy, Captain John Garret was 
elected Major in Oct., 1777. (29). 

I have given a list of the Company officers as "estab- 
lished" at the organization of the regiment. They under- 
went many changes as heretofore indicated. I will give 
them as they existed in May, 1778, when the last changes 
were made of which there is a record. ( 30) This is a list of 
the Captains beginning with the first Company and thus on 
through to the tenth. They were as follows : James Bid- 
lack, Jr., Aholiab Buck, Asaph Whittlesey, Jeremiah Blan- 
chard, William McKarachan, Rezin Geer, Stephen Hard- 
ing, Eliab Farnham, Robert Carr and John Franklin, Jr. 

The Lieutenants were.Lebbeus Tubbs, Elijah Shoemaker, 
Aaron Gaylord, Timothy Keyes, Roswell Franklin, Daniel 
Gore, Elisha Scovil, John Shaw, Nathan Kingsbury and 
Stoddart Bowen. 

The Ensigns were : John Comstock, Asa Gore, William 
White, Jeremiah Bigford, Titus Hinman, John Hagerman, 
John Jenkins, Jr., Elijah Winters, Rudolph Fox and Na- 
thaniel Goss. John Jenkins, Jr., of the Exeter company, 
probably should not be included as he had recently been 
elected a lieutenant in the Continental Service. This com- 
pany had no Ensign in commission. 

Some of these new officers had seen service in the old 
French- war. Lieutenant Lebbeus Tubbs had served two 
enlistments — one of 26 weeks in 1755, in Capt. Nicholas 
Bishop's company of the first Conn, regiment — another 
in 1759 of 27 weeks in Capt. John Pitkin's company of the 
Fourth Conn. Regt. ( 31 ) . 

In the latter year he was in the expedition sent out for 
the reduction of Crown Point. Ensign William White 
served 35 weeks in 1756 in Capt. Samuel' Champlin's Com- 
pany in the First Conn, regiment. Ensign Titus Hinman 

29. Records of the State of Conn. Vol. I, pp. 264, 430. 

30. Records of the State of Conn. Vol. I, pp. 270, 422; Vol. U, p. 30. 

31. Manuscript Pay and Muster Rolls Conn. State Lib. 



21 

in 1755 served 32 weeks in Capt. Benjamin Hinman's com- 
pany in the Second Conn, regiment. 

The Twenty- fourth regiment availed itself of other 
means of becoming efficient. Two deserters from the Brit- 
ish army — Abraham Pike and Sergeant Boyd — were em- 
ployed as drill masters, and spent much time in putting 
the men through their evolutions. (32). 

It had need of the skill of all its officers, of the efficiency 
of all its men. While I have been talking about officers, 
important events have been hastening toward a conclusion, 
on the northen border. They now claim attention. Up to this 
tirre( 1778) no murders had been committed by the Indians. 
They now became frequent. Scouting parties of the regi- 
ment were continually going out and coming in. They 
heralded the approach of an invading army. Premonitory 
signs of its coming had not been wanting. 

It consisted of about 1,100 British soldiers, Indians and 
Tories, under the command of Major John Butler. (33) This 
force had been gathered at Kanadaseago and other points 
in Western New York. The time was the month of June, 
when nature puts on her best apparel. It approached Wy- 
oming in boats. I can imagine the wild and weird flotilla, 
tricked out in barbaric splendor, as it rounded Tioga Point, 
and swept out into the broad waters of the Susquehanna, 
receiving welcome reinforcements to its numbers as it passed 
Queen Esthers flats and the meadows of Sheshequin. It 
landed above Wyoming in Keeler's Eddy. It marched 
about twenty miles by land and was ready to> do its work. 

What was the situation at Wyoming? What the pre- 
paration to receive it? We have detailed the building of 
the forts ; the establishment of the regiment and its deple- 
tion from time to time to recruit the Continental service. 
The forts were there — and the regiment — what there was 
of it. 



32. Miner, p. 215. 

33. Miner, p. 216. 



99 



We left the enemy at the head of the valley. It signified 
its approach by killing- six men in Exeter on the 30th of 
June, 1778. On the first day of July it seized Fort Winter- 
moot. This fort was occupied by Elisha Scovil, lieutenant 
of the Exeter (7th) company and a few patriotic men. 
The Wintermoots and other non -combatants in the fort were 
Tories (34) and after making the best show of resistance he 
could, Scovil capitulated. At Fort Jenkins, one mile above 
Fort Wintermoot, were eight men, including Stephen Hard- 
ing,, Captain of the 7th (Exeter) company. Resistance 
against such odds was useless and it surrendered on the 
second of July, although the articles of capitulation were 
dated on the first. (35) This disposes of one of the com- 
panies of the Twenty-fourth regiment. 

To the valley below a vague knowledge of what was 
happening was communicated by scouts and by persons 
who had escaped when the Hardings and Hadsells were 
killed on the 30th of June. Some information was ob- 
tained by a reconnoisance in force on the first of July. 

In consequence the population gathered into the several 
forts on the first and second days of July. 

Of these, Forty Fort in Kingston was the largest and 
the strongest. In it Col. Nathan Denison established his 
headquarters. He endeavored to concentrate his regiment 
at this point. There were many obstacles in the way. Cap- 
tain Robert Carr's (9th) Up River company could not be 
reached because of the proximity of the enemy. According 
to Hollister, this Company was at Capouse Meadows 
(Scranton). (36) Captain Eliab Farnham's (8th) Lack- 
away company was 70 miles away and could not be reached 
on account of the distance. This company did not learn of 
the invasion until it was over. (37) Thus these two com- 
panies were unavailable. So far as adding to the force of 

34. Miner, p. 21s. 

35. For Articles of Capitulation see Miner p. 255, and Appendix C. 

36. Hollister 5th ed., p. 163, 194. 

37. Miner p. 470. 



— 
c 
- 



s 




23 

fighting- men was concerned, they did not do it. Denison 
sent a messenger express to Captain Franklin in Hunting- 
ton, who dispatched Lieutenant Stoddart Bowen with the 
first of his men who could be gotten together. He sent 
another messenger to Wilkes-Barre. Zebulon Butler. Lt. 
Col. of the third regiment of the Connecticut line was 
then at Wilkes-Barre on furlough. Denison asked him to 
come to Forty Fort. When there, by common consent, he 
assumed command of all the forces. 

Early in the afternoon of Friday, July 3d, the two Wilkes- 
Barre, the Hanover, Plymouth, Kingston and part of the 
Huntington companies were at the rendezvous mustering 
not more than 200 men. In addition to these were Captain 
Hewit's company of Continental Soldiers, some old men, 
young boys, and refugees from all sides, who were willing 
to risk their lives, but did not belong to any military organ- 
ization. Perhaps 400 would be a fair estimate to put on 
the w'hole number of fighting men. On the 2d and again 
on the 3d day of July the enemy demanded the surrender 
of the Forts and all the military forces in the Valley. 

What shall be done ? Great uncertainty existed, as to the 
strength and intention of the enemy. Shall the force now 
in hand await the coming of promised reinforcements ? — 
the more complete concentration of the regiment, the ad- 
vance of the enemy ? or shall they march out and give battle ? 
A council of war was held in which the pros and cons were 
warmly debated. It was decided to give battle. 

"About three o'clock in the afternoon they marched from 
the fort, in martial array, with the stars and stripes at their 
head, to the tune of Saint Patrick's Day in the Morning, 
played on the fife by a true son of Erin, and with drums 
beating." (38) They proceeded about three miles in col- 
umn when they formed a line of battle of about 500 yards 
front. Capt. Dethic Hewit with his so-called regulars, 
was on the extreme right, with Captain Bidlack next to him, 

38. Address of Hon. Steuben Jenkins, p. 38. 



24 

and he joined by Captain Geer. On the extreme left was 
Capt. Whittlesey and the Salem detachment under Lieut. 
Bowen. Next to them was the Hanover company under 
Captain Stewart (McKaracan having that day resigned), 
and he was joined by Captain Buck, of Kingston. This 
was the order in which the advance was made. It was 
made over a plain that was grown up with brush — yellow 
pines, pitch pines and scrub oak. These bushes could be 
seen over by a man, but were high enough to conceal a 
skulking foe. The right rested on a rise of ground near 
the river, and was led by Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler, aided 
by Major John Garret. The left was commanded by Col. 
Nathan Denison, assisted by Lieut. Col. George Dorrance. 

The enemy in front had the Tories in the center under 
Captains Pawling and Hopkins and the British regulars on 
their extreme left under Captain William Caldwell and 
Lieutenant Turney. On the enemy's right were the In- 
dians, under cover of the alders in a swamp led by a Seneca 
Chief named Sayenqueraghta. (39). 

The .Americans advanced with spirit, the enemy purposely 
falling back under fire for the distance of about a mile, until 
they came to a cleared field. On the opposite side of this 
field was a log fence which the British used as a breast- 
work, and from it poured in such a severe fire that it checked 
the advance. Just at this point the Indians with brandish- 
ing spears and demoniac yells, rushed out of the swamp on 
the left, in which most of them lay concealed, enveloped 
the left wing by superior numbers, and turned it in upon 
the right. In the melee that ensued an effort was made to 
re-form it, so that it would present a front to> the enemy, 
but in the confusion occasioned by the fierce onset of the 
enemy the orders were misunderstood and the day was lost. 

The men retreated in squads at first, firing as they gave 
ground, but borne down by overwhelming numbers, the 
retreat became a rout, and every man did the best he could 

39. The Wyoming Massacre, by Horace Edwin Hayden, (1895) p. xviii et seq. 



25 

to save himself. It was four miles back to the fort. On 
the way some of the squads were captured, some in pairs, 
some singly. The slaughter of captured men by the Indians 
constitutes what is known in history as the Wyoming Mas- 
sacre. Some of the fugitives reached Forty Fort ; some 
Wilkes- Barre. Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler escaped with his 
life. He and the remnant of Hewit's regulars left the 
valley. They did not surrender. 

What of the Twenty-fourth Regiment? Col. Denison 
reached Forty Fort alive. Lieut. Col. George Dorrance 
was mortally wounded. Major John Garret was killed. 
The Captain of every company fell upon the field, as also 
did three Lieutenants and three Ensigns. How many men 
the regiment lost it is impossille to say, but from 200 to 
300 of those engaged on the American side were slain. The 
loss of the enemy was from 40 to 80 men. 

Early the next day, July 4, the British commander sent 
a detachment across the river and demanded the surrender 
of Fort Brown, in which the Pittston people assembled, 
under the command of Captain Jeremiah Blanchard. The 
demand was complied with. (40) It is said that this company 
failed to report at Forty Fort because the enemy captured 
all the water craft along the river in its vicinity. This 
disposes of one more of the companies of the Twenty-fourth 
Regiment. 

The same day the surrender of Forty Fort was demanded 
on terms deemed reasonable under the circumstances. No 
means for further resistance were at hand. After some 
negotiation articles of capitulation were drawn up and sign- 
ed. (41) Protection was promised to> persons and property. 
The fort was surrendered. Captain Franklin had come up 
from Huntington, while the battle was in progress on 
Abraham's Plains, with the remainder of his company and 
they were included in the surrender (42), thus making six 

40. Articles of Capitulation given by Miner p. 255. 

41. Articles of Capitulation given by Miner p. 255. 

42. Col. John Franklin and the Wild Yankees, by Rev. David Craft, p. 7. 



2G 

complete companies. I have now accounted for the ten 
original companies of the regiment. Captain William 
Hooker Smith's company of the "Alarm List" was in the 
fort with the women and children at Wilkes-Barre, and 
Capt. James Bidlack, Sr.'s company was in the fort on 
Garrison Hill in Plymouth. These "Reformadoes" be- 
longed to Ccl. Denison's command. 

The victors planned a spectacular entrance into Forty 
Fort. Massed in columns of four upon the left, approached 
Major John Butler at the head of his Rangers and Royal 
Greens; on the right came the Seneca Chiefs, leading their 
warriors, streaked with paint, adorned with feathers, and 
other picturesque barbaric ornaments. They were pre- 
ceded with waving banners, the screech of fife, and the roll 
of drums. At a signal the gates were opened : in at the 
north gate entered the Tories and British Provincials; at 
the south gate the savages. (43). 

This scene as it came down to me when a child, from the 
reported words of a great grandmother who witnessed it, 
most profoundly impressed my youthful imagination. 

What occurred after the capitulation? By the terms 
of the surrender protection was promised to persons and 
property. Regardless of the terms, the Indians plundered 
individuals of the clothing on their persons, pillaged the 
farm steads of everything movable, drove away the live 
stock, destroyed the growing crops and burned the build- 
ings of the distressed inhabitants to the ground. Their 
commander could not, or would not restrain them. 

The result was that on the night following the battle, and 
on the two or three succeeding days and nights, the 3,000 
inhabitants of the Wyoming Valley fled, some by boats 
and rafts down the river, but by far the greater number 
through the wilderness, and over the mountains to the set- 
tlements beyond. It was not a planned and orderly hegira, 
in which provision was made for necessary wants, but a 

43. Miner p. 232. 



27 

hurried, hasty, precipitate flight, urged on to desperation 
by every element of real and imaginary danger. Their 
houses, furniture, household utensils, crops, flocks, farm- 
ing implements, provisions, papers, clothing, horses, wagons, 
— all left behind. And it was all utterly destroyed or car- 
ried off. Of the delicate women and tender children, not 
less than 200 perished by the way. In the battle, the mas- 
sacre, and the flight it is probable that 500 persons lost 
their lives. In a memorial to the Connecticut legislature, 
the survivors stated that their property losses amounted to 
38,308 pounds, 13s. (44). 

In the Articles of Capitulation signed at Forty Fort was 
this : "Art. 7. That the inhabitants Col. Denison capitu- 
lates for, together with himself, do not take up arms during 
the present contest." Some undoubtedly considered them- 
selves bound by this article. Colonel Denison for one is no 
longer heard of in our military annals, although Westmore- 
land remained more than four years longer under the juris- 
diction of Connecticut. The Twenty-fourth regiment was 
never reorganized. It was overwhelmed on the field of 
battle ; it was surrendered in sections, by the terms of four 
military conventions.* Of this sort of glory it had a monop- 
oly. As a regiment its story is told. 

On the other hand many of the men considered them- 
selves absolved from the terms above recited. The party 
that imposed the conditions, did not themselves observe 
them. Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler, one month from the day 
of surrender, returned to the valley at the head of some 
Continental soldiers and 40 militiamen and went into gar- 
rison at Wilkes-Barrie. A muster roll of these men is ex- 
tant. Many of them were men who had been surrendered. 
Captain John Franklin, with a company of Wyoming 
militia, went out in Hartley's expedition the same year, 
and in Sullivan's expedition the next year, and on other 
occasions. 

44. See Appendix B. 
* See Appendix C. 



28 

In an upper chamber of this building is an original pay 
roll of one of these companies. Many of its names are 
identical with those who served in the Twenty-fourth 
regiment. 

After the flight of the people from the valley the dead 
lay unburied on the plain where they fell for nearly four 
months. On the twenty second day of October a detail 
of thirty men was sent from the garrison at Wilkes-Barre 
as a guard to protect those of the inhabitants that had re- 
turned, in performing that solemn duty. (45). 

A granite monument suitably inscribed now marks the 
place of sepulchre. Engraved upon it is a very in- 
accurate list of those "slain in battle" and of "survivors." 

In this temple, dedicated to the Muse of the backward 
look, it may be appropriate to inquire, What relation, if 
any, had these events to the history of the times? The 
drama of the American Revolution held the center of the 
stage. Did our regiment enact a part? An important 
part. It triumphed mightily in its death. The tales of the 
butchery of these captured citizen soldiers, the cries of those 
mothers and little children, driven from their burning homes 
to the wilds of the forest, were heard all over the civilized 
world. The execration of mankind was visited upon a 
King, and a country, that employed savage allies and paid 
them ten dollars apiece, in gold, for the scalps of human 
beings. 

It produced another effect. It called the attention of 
Washington and the Congress to the imperative necessity 
of dealing a death blow, to the Six Nation Confederacy of 
Indian barbarians. A year passed by. The avengers of 
Wyoming darkened the waters that wash the shores of your 
beautiful peninsula — they swarmed over the lands where we 

45. Orderly Book of Col. Z. Butler in Proc. Wyo. Hist. Soc. Vol. VU p. 124. 




WYOMING MONUMENT. 



29 

are assembled to-night, they went forward, they did the 
work assigned them ; Wyoming was avenged. 

Permit me a word of review. 

The Connecticut controversy! with all its bitterness and 
contention, it is sunk in oblivion. 

The town of Westmoreland ! it is sponged from the map. 

The Twenty-fourth regiment! it served three years — 
one for the colony, two for the state. It builded forts, it 
fought battles, it went down to defeat and death, amidst a 
wild saturnalia of blood, rapine, and murder. It is forgot- 
ten. 

"Time rolls its ceaseless course ; the race of yore. 
Who danced our infancy upon their knee. 

And told our marvelling boyhood legends store 
Of their strange ventures happ'd by land or sea, 
How are they blotted from the things that be!" 




30 



APPENDIX B. 



A bill of Losses sustained by the Inhabitants of West- 
moreland from the 3d day o<f July, 1778, to May, 1780, 
taken and carefully examined by the Selectmen of sd Town 
pursuant to a Resolve of the Assembly of the state of Con- 
necticut holden at Hartford the second Thursday of May, 
1780. 

And is as followeth : 



Sara'l Andross, 
Isaac Adams, 
Richardson Avery, 
Alice Abbot, 
Prince Alden, 
Mason F. Alden, 
Noah Adams, 
Cornelius Atherton, 
Samuel Ayers, 
James Atherton, 
Richardson Avery, Jr., 
Eber Adros, 
Col. Zebulon Butler, 
Zerah Beach, 
Ishmael Bennet, 
Isaac Bennet, 
Asa Bennet, 
Henry Burney, 
Moses Brown, 
Andrew Blanchard, 
John Blanchard, 
Joseph Blanchard, 
Margaret Blanchard, 
Lucretia Buck, 
James Benedict. 
Jeremiah Blanchard, 
Benjamin Bailey, 
Asahel Burnham, 
Isaac Benjamin, 
Thomas Brown, 
Thomas Bennet, 
James Brown. 
Capt. James Bidlack, 
Sarah Brockway, 
Joseph Baker, 
Elisha Blackman, 
Elizabeth Benedict, 
Bertha' Bixby, 



£ 


s 


2(3 


15 


103 


14 


155 


00 


173 


6 


83 


17 


5 


13 


S3 


5 


103 





100 


10 


120 


3 


137 


13 


120 


3 


429 


4 


67 


13 


96 


17 


61 


7 


190 


12 


71 


15 


13 


8 


49 


15 


23 


8 


54 


9 


79 


2 


90 


14 


228 


13 


215 


14 


134 


17 


35 


6 


9 





61 





507 





165 


4 


65 


19 


205 


7 


124 


13 


137 


1 


144 


13 


36 


13 



James Bagley, 
Mary Bixby, 
Capt. Caleb Bates, 
Wm. Buck, 
Elijah Buck, 
Abigail Bidlack, 
David Brown, 
Richard Brockway, 
Mehitable Bigford, 
Uriah Chapman, Esq. 
Samuel Cummings, 
John Cray, 
Wm. Churchill, 
Anne Campbell, 
Nathan Cary, 
Benjamin Cole, Jr., 
James Cole, 
Peleg Comstock, 
Mary Crooker, 
John Comstock, 
Jonathan Cory, 
Jinks Cory, 
Thos McClner, 
Barnabas Cary, 
Samuel Cole, 
Preserved Cooley, 
Col. Nathan Denison, 
Samuel Downer, 
Daniel Downing, 
David Darling, 
Sarah Durkee, 
Amos Draper, 
Samuel Dart, 
Anderson Dana, Esq., 
Frederick Eveland, 
Samuel Ensign, 
Joseph Elliott, 
Henry Elliott, 



£ 


s. 


95 


15 


74 


8 


285 


4 


245 


5 


103 


18 


63 


10 


28 


16 


163 


17 


202 


1 


58 


10 


151 


5 


93 


10 


178 


10 


100 


5 


160 


4 


165 





207 


O 


40 


13 


51 


1 


219 


7 


173 


11 


83 





66 


4 


88 


17 


89 


6 


95 


19 


209 


15 


22 


19 


107 





13 





240 


18 


68 


18 


124 


4 


194 


15 


90 


6 


38 


10 


33 


17 


44 


14 



31 



£ s. 



Benjamin Eaton, 
Nathaniel Evans. 
Capt. Stephen Fuller, 
Roswell Franklin, 
Charles Forsythe. 
Capt. John Franklin, 
Benj. Follet. 
Jahez Fish. 
John Ferre, Jr., 
Hugh Foresman, 
Sarah Fuller, 
Esther Follet, 
James Finn, 
Richard Fitz Jarold, 
Elizabeth Follet, 
Jonathan Forsythe, 
Jonathan Fitch, 
Capt. Eliab, Farnham, 
Joanna Fish, 
Major John Garret, 
Hannah Gore, 
John Garret, Jr., 
Daniel Gore, 
Cornelius Gale, 
William Gallop, 
Solomon Goss, 
Justin Gaylord, 
Keziah Gore. 
Obadiah Gore, Esq., 
Elisha Garret. 
Catherine Gaylord, 
Joseph Gaylord, 
Stephen Gardner, 
Nathaniel Gates, 
James Gardner, 
Elizabeth Gore, 
Wait Garret. 
Bezaleel Gnrtiey. 
John Hurlburt, Esq., 
Peter Harris. 
Richard Hoisted, 
Lebbeus Hammond, 
Joseph Hagaman, 
Henry Hardin?, 
Matthew Hollenback, 
Dr. Joseph Hamilton, 
James Hopkins. 
Capt. Robt. Ho-kins, 
Samuel Huchinson, 
Simon Hide, 
Widow Hasen and aon, 
Samuel Howard, 
Mary Howard 
Benjamin Hervy, 
Mary Hatch. 
John Hutchins, 



369 


10 


61 


19 


288 


4 


104 





15 


3 


21 


4 


US 


17 


223 





61 


11 


193 


11 


101 


13 


221 


7 


221 


11 


245 


2 


212 


o 


138 


16 


46 


10 


27 


11 



30 17 
309 11 



59 IS 



273 


13 


7 


14 


200 





31 


11 


134 


14 


89 





306 


1 


29 





158 


4 


69 


6 


176 


18 


66 


14 


180 





240 


•J 


108 





59 


(3 


85 


7 


149 


16 


177 


6 


84 


IS 


19 





55 


12 


671 


3 


284 


17 


90 


<j 


28 


IS 


163 


9 


117 


17 


182 


10 


27 


15 


50 


1 


186 





12 


7 


57 


1 



Capt. Stephen Harding, 
Stukely Harding, 
James Headsall, 
Thos. Heath, 
Cyprian Hyberc, 
Daniel Ingersol, 
Sarah Inman, 
Richard Inman, 
Edward Inman, 
Rev. Jacob Johnson, 
John Jenneson, 
Crocker Jones, 
Wm. Jacobson, 
Robert Jamison, 
Capt. Wm. Judd, 
John Jenkins, Esq., 
Josiah Kellogg, 
Michael Kelly, 
Benj. Kilburn, 
Hanna Keys, 
Alexander M. Kay, 
Sarah Lee, 
Thomas Levenworth, 
Sarah Leonard, 
Rufus Lawrence, 
Daniel Lawrence, 
George Liquors, 
Abigail Leech, 
Joseph Leonard, 
John Lashley, 
David Lindsey, 
Edward Lester, 
Samuel Morgan, 
John Murphy, 
Benj. Murry, 
Ebenezer Murry, 
Uzania Manvill, 
Thomas Neil, 
James Nesbit, 
Phinehas Nash, 
John O'Neil, 
David Owen, 
Amos Ormsby, 
Aiming Owen, 
Josiah Pell, 
Lucy Pettibone, 
Hannah Parish, 
Thomas Picket, 
Hannah Pierce, 
Thos. Picket, Jr., 
Ichabod Phelps, 
Thos. Porter, 
Josiah Parks, 
Noah Pettibone, 
Jonathan Pritchard, 
Jonathan Parker, 



£ s. 

181 19 
73 6 



210 
190 



119 1J 

208 2 

161 10 

41 17 



84 

459 

88 

9 

106 

183 

19 

598 

146 

21 

92 16 

178 11 

4 

6 



6 

1 

11 



l'i 

2 

1 

12 

11 



277 

236 

122 It 

75 

189 11 

37 

136 18 

82 

79 19 

53 2 

78 7 

109 11 

153 S 

86 3 

78 2 

118 12 

46 17 

4 

74 19 



2 



1 



70 

18 

24 

7 

174 12 

73 10 

79 9 

44 12 

111 11 

151 6 

66 

93 2 

200 

49 19 



216 



1 



30 15 
54 12 



32 



Silas Parks, Esq., 
Elijah Phelps, 
Sarah Pixley, 
John Ryon 
Wm. Ross, 
John Ross, 
Susannah Reynolds, 
Peran Ross, 
Abigail Richards, 
David Reynolds, 
Capt. Samuel Ransom, 
Capt. Daniel Rosencrani 
James Roberts, 
Jonah Rogers, 
Amasa Roberts, 
Timothy Rose, 
Caleb Spencer, 
Margaret Smith, 
James Stark, 
Lazarus Stuart, Jr., 
Isaac Smith, 
Joseph Staples, 
Esther Spencer, 
David Sanford, 
Elizabeth St. John, 
Elisha Scovil, 
Jonathan Scovil, 
Ebenezer Skinner, 
Wm. Shay, 
Josiah Smith, 
Obadiah Scott, 
Jedediah Stevens, 
Joshua Stevens, 
Zacharias Squire, 
James Sutton, 
David Shoemaker, 
Daniel Sherwood, 
Edward Spencer, Jr., 
Thomas Stoddard, 
David Smith, 
Jane Shoemaker, 
Benj. Skiff, 
Wm. Hooker Smith, 
Wm. Stuart, 
Giles Slocum, 
Asa Stevens, 
John Scott, 
James Staples, 
Martha Stuart, 



£ 


s. 


91 


10 


550 


10 


26 


13 


18 


3 


326 





65 


17 


28 


10 


233 


9 


135 


t> 


94 


2 


259 





,175 


10 


83 


18 


168 


17 


92 


10 


118 


11 


182 


17 


155 


10 


547 


15 


172 


12 


67 


10 


223 





135. 





193 


12 


162 





712 


4 


72 





89 


4 


114 


15 


83 


19 


72 


15 


285 





119 


11 


66 


16 


176 


17 


50 





40 


4 


85 


7 


200 


8 


202 


15 


329 


12 


98 


7 


168 


7 


57 


17 


205 


19 


185 


11 


217 


3 


80 


19 


481 


12 



Jabez Sill. 
John Staples, 
John Stafford, 
Josiah Stanberry, 
Luke Sweatland, 
Joseph Thomas, 
Mary Thomas, 
Ephraim Tyler, 
Parshall Terry, 
Mary Thompson. 
Job Tripp, 
Isaac Tripp, 
Lebbeus Tubbs, 
John Taylor, 
Preserved Taylor, 
Mehitable Truks, 
Moses Thomas, 
Bezaleel Tyler. . 
Elizabeth Tuttle, 
James Towser. 
Isaac Van Orman, 
John Van Titbury, 
Rev. Noah Wadhams, 
Amy Wilcox, 
Elizabeth Wilcox, 
Enos Woddard, 
Enos Woddard, Jr ., 
Eleazer West, 
Nathaniel Williams, 
Abigail Weeks. 
Mary Walker, 
Eunice Whiton, 
Daniel Willing, 
Thomas Wigton, 
Isabel Wigton, 
Wm. Warner, 
Wm. Williams. 
Jonathan Weeks, 
Flavius Waterman, 
Elihu Williams, 
Richard West, 
Amy Williams, 
Daniel Whitney. 
Abraham Westbrook, 
James Wells, 
Lucretia York, 
Jemima Yale, 
Jacob Zaratt, 

Total amount, £38 



£ 


s. 


351 


19 


224 


12 


36 


G 


603 


14 


200 





120 


18 


25 





14 


V! 


216 


12 


30 


10 


113 


i 


74 


10 


ISO 


~ 


61 


14 


IS 


2 


159 


i 


68 


3 


35 


17 


67 


10 


36 





122 





84 


-> 


193 


6 


116 


12 


ST 


lo 


30 


19 


16 


7 


53 


10 


30 





129 


16 


42 


5 


26 


7 


44 


17 


175 


6 


130 


1 


68 


16 


148 


18 


239 


11 


90 





197 


10 


65 


17 


130 





363 


14 


380 


o 


92 


12 


221 


13 


130 


._> 


42 


11 


308 


13 



The foregoing Bill was carefully examined in each single 
account and estimated in lawful money equal to money in 
1774- 



Appendix A. 



LlKUT.COI.ONEI,. 



MAJOK. 



Zebulon Butler.. May. 1775 

Nathan Denison May, 1777 

Nathan Denison May. 1775 

Lazarus Stewart.. May. 1777 

George Dorranee.. Oct., i?77 

William Judd. May, 1 

George Dorranee. May, 1777 

John Garret. Oct., 1777 



LlEITKNANTK. 



Fii-.ii, or 
I -.n , , Wilkei-Barre Comp'y 
Stephen Fuller .Oct., 17 
Jobs Garret. o.-t i;,,, 

Elisha Swift May, 177 

James Bidlaok, Jr. Oct., 1777 



John Garret, Oct., 177 

A>.i Stevens Oct., I77t; 

James Bidlaok, Jr May. 177 

Lehlieus Tnbba Oct., 177 



Charles Avery Oct., 1776 

H&810N8. David Downing Oct., 1776 



Lebbeus Tubbs 
John ( lomatock 



May, 1777 
Oct., L777 



ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT MILITIA 

From Date of Its Organization to Day of Its Destruction. Date of Commission Follows Each Name. 



Second, or 
Kingston Company. 
Nathaniel London Oot., 1775 
Win. Hooker Smith May, 1777 
l)rtln. ■ Hewit Oct., 1777 

Aholiab Buck May, 1778 

Qeorge Dorranee Oct., I77."> 

Flavins Waterman. May, 1777 
Aholiab Buck Oct., 1777 

Elijah Shoemaker May, 177.x 

Asahel Buck < . . i i;;:, 
Del hie Hewit 

Elisha Blackman May, 1771 

Gore Oct., 1777 



I inr.l, or 

Plymouth Company, 

Samuel Ransom l lot, 177."> 
Asaph Whittlesey May, 177' 



Perrin Ross .Oct., 1775 

Aaron Gaylord May. 17' 



Asaph Whittlesey Oct., 177.". 
William White May, 11 



Foui "' 
pttuton Company, 

Solomon Strong. Oct., I? 
Jeremiah Blanc hard May, 17 



Jonathan Parker Oct., 177B 
Timothy Keyes May, I 



Timothy Keyes Ocl 1776 
William Shays. May. 1 

Jeremiah Bigford. May. 177s 



Fifth, or 
Hanoi - 1 I 'ompany. 
Wm. UcEarrican. Oct.. 



Lazarus Stewart, Jr Oct., 17 
Boswell Franklin May. 17 



Silas Gore. Oct., 1775 

Titus Hinmau May. 1777 



Upper With* .*- Barre Comp'y 
He/.m Geer Oot., l 



8< i- nth, or 
ompany. 
Stephen Harding Oot., 1775 



John Hagerman Oot., 1775 



Eighth, or 
haekaway Co 

Eliah Farnham.Oct., 17 



. 11 Oot . 1776 



John Jenkins, Jr I 



Hinth, 
Vp i 

3eaoord 
Etobert Oarr. 



upany. 

Oct., n 

May. 17 



Elijah Winters • 



Tenth, or 
Buntington 

John Franklin May, 177! 



John Dcpue 
Nathan Klngaley. 



Oot., 



Frethias Wall • 

Stoddart Bowcn May,1778 



Kudolph Fox Oct . 1 7 7 r> 



John Franklin Oct . 17711 
Nathaniel (loss May, 177H 



I 



33 

Westmoreland, Oct. 2, 1781. 
"In the Lower House, Ordered that this Report be 
Lodged on file in the Secretary's Office. 

Teste— Jed'h Strong, Clerk. 
Concur d in the Upper House. 

Teste — George Wyllys, Sect'y. 




34 



APPENDIX G 

Copies of Documents Relative to the Expedition Against Wy- 
oming, in 1778, Now in His Majesty's State Paper Office, 
London, in a Volume Entitled, " Military, i 778.— No. \ 22." 

I. 

Copy of Articles of Capitulation, for Winter moot's Fort, July 1, 
1778. 
Art. 1st. That Lieut. Elisha Scovell surrender the Fort, 
with the Stores, arms and ammunition, that are in said fort, as 
well public as private, to Major John Butler. 

2d. That the garrison shall not bear arms during the pres- 
ent conter-t ; and Major Butler promises that the men, women 
and children shall not be hurt, either by Indians or Rangers. 

II. 
Fort Jenkins Fort, July 1st, 1778. 
Between Major John Butler, on behalf of His Majesty King 
George the Third, and John Jenkins. 
Art. 1st. That the Fort with all the stores, arms and ammu- 
nition, be delivered up immediately. 

2d. That Major John Butler shall preserve to them, intire, 
the lives of the men, women and children. 

III. 
Articles of Capitulation for three Forts at Lackuwanack, 4th 
July, 1778. 
Art. 1st. That the different Commanders of the said Forts, 
do immediatelv deliver them up, with all the arms, ammunition 
and stores in the said forts. 

2d. Major Butler promises that the lives of the men, women 
and children shall be preserved intire. 

IV. 
Westmoreland, July 4th, 1778. 
Capitulation made and completed between Major John Butler, 
on behalf of His Majesty King George the Third, and 
Col. Nathan Denniston, of the United States of America. 



35 

Art. 1. That the inhabitants of the settlement lay down their 
arms, and the garrisons be demolished. 

2d. That the inhabitants are to occupy their farms peaceably, 
and the lives of the inhabitants preserved intire and unhurt. 
3d. That the Continental Stores be delivered up. 
4th. That Major Butler will use his utmost influence that 
the private property of the inhabitants shall be preserved intire 
to them. 

5th. That the prisoners in Forty Fort, be delivered up, and 
that Samuel Finch, now in Major Butler's possession, be deliv- 
ered up also. 

6th. That the property taken from the people called Tories, 
up the river, be made good ; and they to remain in peaceable 
possession of their farms, unmolested in a free trade, in and 
throughout this State, as far as lies in my power. 

7th. That the inhabitants, that Colonel Denniston now 
capitulates for, together with himself, do not take up arms dur- 
ing the present contest. 

[Signed] Nathan Denniston. 

Zarah Beech, John Butler. 

John Johnson, 
Samuel Gustin, 
Wm. Caldwell. 



V* 



36 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Below will be found a list of the books, pamphlets, and man- 
uscripts consulted in the preparation i»f this address. By means 
of an alphabetical arrangement, usually as to author's names, an 
authority cited in the text may here be found with the title of 
the work, and the date, and place of publication. 
Chapman, Isaac A. — A sketch of the History of Wyoming. 

Wilkes-Barre. 1830. 
Conover, George S. — Sayenqueraghta, King ot the Senecas. 

Waterloo. 1885. 

Supplement to the same. 1886. 
Connecticut — The Public Records of the Colony of. — From 

October, 1772, to April, 1775, inclusive. Vol. 

XIV. Hartford. 1887. 

Connecticut — The Public Records of the Colony of. — From 
May, 1775, to June, 1776, inclusive. Vol. 

XV. Hartford. 1890. 

Connecticut — The Public Records of the State of. — From 

October, 1776, to February, 1778, inclusive. 

Vol. I. Hartford. 1894. 
Connecticut — The Public Records of the State of. From May, 

1778, to April, 1780, inclusive. Vol. II. 

Hartford. 1895. 
Connecticut. — Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the 

War of the Revolution. Quarto, pp. 777. 

Hartford. 1889. 
Craft, Rev. David. — Historical Address at the Centennial 

Celebration of the Battle of Newtown. Printed 

in Journals of the Sullivan Expedition. 
Craft, Rev. David. — Colonel John Franklin and the Wild 

Yankees. An Address delivered June 9, 1896, 

at the Old Academy, Athens, Pa. 1896. 



37 

Egle, Wm. H., M. D.— A History of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, Civil, Political and Military, from 
its earliest settlement to the present time. Har- 
rison rg. 1876. 

Hubbard, John N., A. B.— Sketches of Border Adventures in 
the Life and Times of Major Moses VanCampen, 
a Surviving Soldier of the Revolution. By his 
Grandson. Bath, N. Y. 1842. 

Hayden, Rev. Horace Edwin, M. A.— Major John Garret, 
slain July 3, 1778. A Forgotten Hero of the 
Massacre of Wyoming, Pa. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 
1895. 

Hayden, Rev. Horace Edwin, M. A. — The Massacre of 
Wvoming. Wilkes-Barre. 1895. 

Holllster, Horace.— History of the Lackawana Valley, 
Fifth Edition. Philadelphia. 1885. 

Hoyt, Henry M.— A Brief of the Title in the Seventeen 
Townships in the County of Luzerne : A Syl- 
labus of the Controversy between Connecticut 
and Pennsylvania. Harrisburg. 1879. 

Hinman, Royal R.— A Historical Collection from Official 
Records, Files, etc., of the part sustained by 
Connecticut during the War of the Revolution. 
Hartford. 1842. 

Harvey, Oscar Jewell. — The Harvey Book, giving geneal- 
ogies of Harvey, Nesbitt, Dixon and Jamison 
Families. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 1899. 

Jenkins, Steuben.— Historical Address at the Wyoming Mon- 
ument July 3, 1878, on the 100th Anniversary 
of the Battle and Massacre of Wyoming. Wilkes- 
Barre. 1878. 

Jenkins, Steuben.— Wyoming, Connecticut, Pennsylvania. 
Historical Regisier. Vol. II. Harrisburg. 1884. 



38 

Johnson, Frederick C, M. D. — The Pioneer Women of Wy- 
oming. An Address before the Wyoming Valley 
Chapter D. A. R. Wilkes-Barre. 1901. 
Meginness, John F. — Biography of Frances- Slocum, the lost 
Sister of Wyoming. A complete Narrative of 
her wanderings among the Indians. Williams- 
port, Pa. 1891. 
Miner, Charles. — History of Wyoming in a Series of Letters. 

Philadelphia. 1845. 
Military Expedition of General John Sullivan, Journals of. 

Auburn. 1887. 
Peck, George, D. D. — Wyoming ; its History, Stirring Inci- 
dents and Romantic Adventures. New York. 
1858. 
Pearce, Stewart. — Annals of Luzerne County. Second Edi- 
tion. Philadelphia. 1866. 
Pennsylvania — Minutes of the Provincial Council of. — From 
the organization to the termination of the Pro- 
prietary Government. Vols. IX to XI. Har- 
risburg. 1853. 
Pennsylvania — Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council 
of. — From its organization to the termination of 
the Revolution. Vols. XI to XVI. Harris- 
burg. 1853. 
Pennsylvania Archives. — Selected and arranged from Orig- 
inal Documents in the Office of the Secretary of 
the Commonwealth. First Series. Vols. IV 
to XII. Harrisburg. 1855-8. Second Series. 
Vol. XVIII. Harrisburg. 1897. Fourth 
Series. Vols. III. and IV. Harrisburg. 1900. 
Perkins, Mrs. George A. — Early Times on the Susquehanna. 

Binghamton. 1870. 
Plumb, Henry Blackman. — History of Hanover Township 
and Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County, Pa. 
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 1885. 



39 

Reynolds, Sheldon, M. A. — The Frontier Forts within the 
Wyoming Valley, Pa. Wilkes- Bar re. 1896. 
Also in Frontier Forts of Pa. Vol. I, pp. 419- 
466. Harrisbnrg. 1896. 

Stone, William L. — The Poetry and History of Wyoming. 
New York and London. 1841. 

Stone, William L. — Life of Joseph Brant — Thayendanegea, 
including the Indian Wars of the American Rev- 
olution. Vol. I. Cooperstown, N. Y. 1844. 

United States. — Journals of Congress. Containing their 
Proceedings from Sept. 5, 1774, to November 3, 
1788. 13 volumes. Philadelphia. 1800-1. 

Wright, Hendrick B. — Historical Sketches of Plymouth, Lu- 
zerne County, Pa. Philadelphia. 1873. 

Wyoming Valley — The Historical Record of. A periodical 
publication. Dr. F. C. Johnson, Editor. 9 
volumes. Wilkes-Barre. 1886-1901. 

Wyoming Historical and Geological Society — Proceed- 
ings and Collections. Vols. 1-7. Wilkes- 
Barre. 1858-1902. 

Wyoming Commemorative Association — Proceedings. 12 
volumes. Wilkes-Barre. 1878-1902. 



MANUSCRIPTS. 

The subjoined list embraces material not in printed form : 
Craft, Rev. David. — Collection of MSS. deposited by him in 
the Rooms of the Tioga Point Historical Society, 
Athens, Pa. 

Connecticut State Lirrary. — Manuscript Pay and Muster 
Rolls of Soldiers in the French and Indian War, 
1754-1763. Hartford, Conn. 
Appendix "B" is Document No. 147 in a man- 
uscript volume entitled "Susquehanna Settlers," 
Vol. I. 



40 

Jenkins, Hon. Steuben. — Documents, Letters, Surveys, Ac- 
count Books, Agreements, Diaries, etc. etc. Wy- 
oming, Pa. Examined in lifetime of late owner. 

Tioga Point Historical Society. — Pay Roll of Capt. John 
Franklin's Company, dated May, 1780. 
Athens, Pa. 




